Ignition device for fuel burners



May 2, 1961 D. c. MCCUTCHEON 2,982,840

IGNITION DEVICE; FOR FUEL BURNERS Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fio'. 1.

I N VEN TOR David C. M Cui'cheoFc. W

ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 D. c. M CUTCHEON 2,982,840

IGNITION DEVICE FOR FUEL BURNERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 515cm C. M Cui' United States Patent Ofifice IGNITION DEVICE FOR FUEL BURNERS David C. McCutcheon, 800 University Blvd., E., Silver Spring, Md., assignor of one-half to Gustave Miller, Washington, D.C.

Filed Aug. 10, 1955, Ser. No. 527,564

1 Claim. (Cl. 219-35) This invention relates to a heating device wherein there is provided an electrical fuel ignitor for a fire-box and it particularly relates to a device of this type wherein the ignitor can be removed from the burning fuel after ignition thereof has taken place.

Although electrical ignitors have previously been used for igniting beds of solid fuel such as coal, charcoal, wood, etc., a common disadvantage of these prior ignitors lay in the fact that they were constantly subject to the intense heat of the fire after their ignition function had been completed. As a result of the constant wide temperature changes from very hot to cool, these ignitors tended to become embrittled and their life span was, therefore, considerably shortened. In addition, since these ignitors were part of an electrical circuit, the high amount of breakage due to their brittleness, resulted in exposure of the user to the electrical curent with the consequent deleterious results.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above, as well as various other disadvantages of the prior mechanisms, by providing an electrical ignitor which is not exposed to the intense heat of the fire at any time except during the short ignition operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical ignitor for solid fuels, wherein the ignitor and the fuel are relatively movable toward and away from each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical ignitor which performs its function on the underside of the solid fuel bed and after ignition has taken place the separation action of the fuel and ignitor can be completed on this same underside of the fuel bed thus causing a minimum of disturbance to the burning built up fuel bed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical ignitor system wherein the ignitor has a prolonged life span and wherein the danger of exposure to electrical current of the user is diminished.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved electrical ignitor, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combintion of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a broiling unit embodying the present invention, the upper grill portion being shown broken away at various places to better show the construction of the device. I

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the broiler unit of Fig. 1, parts being omitted for purpose of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the device of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the fire tray shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the carrying tray shown in Fig. 3.

2,982,840 Patented May 2, 1961 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ignitor element of Fig. 3.

Briefly, this invention concerns the use of an electrical resistance element and a fuel supporting unit wherein either one or the other unit can be adjusted relative to the other from a position wherein the resistance element coincides with the fuel supporting unit in such manner that it is in intimate contact with the fuel, to a position where the resistance element is completely removed from the area of the fire.

When the resistance element is in its coincident, operative position, the energization thereof provides a sufficiently constant flow of heat to cause quick ignition of the fuel, without the necessity of using kindling, wood, paper or the various liquid hydrocarbons in order to get the fire started.

The resistance element is designed to operate at incipient white heat to a white heat with a temperature range of 1250 F. to 1550 F., this being well above the glow point of anthracite coal, at 1112 F., coke at 1123 F., bituminous coal at 850 F., charcoal, and the like. This, of course, provides quick ignition.

After ignition has taken place, the separation action, ignitor from fuel bed, can be made so that the resistance unit is no longer in its fire lighting position and it is thus remotely stored until required for igniting another fire.

The removal of the resistance unit does not dislodge the fuel, nor is there much likelihood of clogging or jamming.

The energization of the electrical resistance element is eifected by an ordinary off-on switch and the deenergization thereof may also be eifected in this same manner. However, if desired, deenergization may also be effected by a thermostat control, either interposed in the circuit or acting directly on the switch. The energization and deenergization, however, may be carried out by various different means, and the particular type of means used forms no part of this invention, by itself.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a broiler unit 10 comprising a housing 12 having an opening in the front wall and having side walls 14 and 16, a rear wall 18, and a perforated bottom wall 22 wherein the perforations form air vents 24. Supporting legs 26 are provided on the four corners of the unit; while on the top there is provided a grill 28 adapted for various cooking and warming operations.

Within the housing 12 are provided several side brackets 30 which might be used for supporting other grills 28 at various levels within the broiler, and also for holding the firetray or grate 34 at various levels relative to the grill 28 where the heat is required.

The firetray or grate is illustrated in full line, in Fig. 2, in its lowermost ignition position. When in this position, the fuel is ignited, the firetray or grate may then be moved to an upper bracket 30 closer to grill 28, the distance determining the temperature to which it is exposed. When the firetray o-r grate 34 is in the uppermost, dotted line position in Fig. 2, it provides a direct heating unit for the external grill 28 on the top.

The firetray or grate 34- comprises a pan having a flat bottom Wall 36, side walls 38 and 40, and a rear wall 42. A carrying handle 44 is connected to the rear wall 42, as at 46. The bottom wall 36 is provided with a generally U-shaped slot 48. The side walls 38 and 40 are beveled at their front edges, as at 50 and 52, to form, together with the open front edge 54, a scoop type of front opening, to enable the tray to be used as a scoop to pick up particles of fuel from a fuel pile.

Below the lowermost bracket 30, extending into the back end of the broiler, there is provided a terminal block 56 to which are connected the spaced ends 58 of a generally rectangular, tubular electrode 60. The ends 58 are downwardly oiiset from the main portion of the electrode 6 by shoulder portions 62. An electrical resistance wire, not shown, is enclosed within the tube 60' and its ends areinserted within the terminal block 56, through the tube ends 58. The terminal block acts as a receptacle for the plug 64 connecting it to a source of electrical energy. The rectangular electrode 60* is adapted to fit through the slot 48 in the bottom of the tray or grate 34 when the tray or grate is positioned on the lowermost brackets 30, as shown in Fig. 3. V

A carrying tray 66 is provided for carrying the fire tray, with the burning fuel therein, from its position within the broiler unit to any other desired place. This tray 66 comprises a bottom wall 68, side walls 70 and 72, and a rear wall 74. A hollow half-handle 76 extends from the rear wall 74, and eyelets 78 extend upwardly from each of the side walls 70 and 72 adjacent the open end 80 of the tray. The tray 66 is dimensioned so that the fire tray or grate 34 can just fit within it, with the handle' l -i of the firetray adapted to fit within the hollow, half-handle 76 of the carrying tray.

When not in use, the carrying tray 66 is connected to the lower front end of the broiler by means of inserting the eyelets 78 over corresponding hooks 82 extending from the front of the broiler unit. In this position, when it is desired to transfer the fire tray from its ignition position, it is merely pulled out, by means of the handle 44, and slid onto the carrying tray 66 in nested position therein. The carrying tray eyelets are then slid ofiE the hooks 82 and the two nested trays can then be safely carried away to any desired area. p

The invention has been described above in relation to a broiler; however, it is to be understood that theinvention is adapted to all types of solid'fuel burners, regardless of their use. p

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be vari ously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed. V

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A solid fuel igniting and burning device comprising, in combination, a box shaped housing having supporting sides and depending legs, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of internally extending supporting brackets on two opposite supporting sides, and a front side having a fire tray receiving opening leading to said pairs of supporting brackets, 21 fire tray having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, an upstanding rear wall connecting said side walls, and a carrying handle extending from said rear wall, said bottom wall being of a size to be supported on any pair of said supporting brackets, said bottom wall having a slotted opening extending therethrough, a carrying tray and handle of a size and shape to have said fire tray and handle nested therein, said carrying tray having hook cooperating means thereon for cooperating with supporting hooks extending from opposite of the opening in said housing leading to the lowermost pair of supporting brackets, and an electric heat conducting ignition tube supported in said housing and extending between said lowermost pair of brackets in position to extend through said fire tray slotted opening when said fire tray is supported on said lowermost pair of supporting brackets, whereby solid fuel on said firetray accessible through said slotted opening may be ignited when said firetray is supported on said lowermost pair of supporting brackets, and said carrying tray will catch any spillage through said slotted opening when said fire tray is moved to an upper pair of supporting brackets or'is nested in said carrying tray for removal from said housing. 7

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